NRL will go back to one referee for the resumption of the 2020 season
The NRL will return to one referee for the resumption of the 2020 season, abandoning the two-referee system that has been used since 2009.
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The NRL is on the verge of returning to one referee for the remainder of the season with the aim of saving millions of dollars long term.
And teams that try to capitalise by slowing the ruck will be in for a rude shock.
When the game resumes on May 28, referees will be told to immediately restart the tackle count, rather than blow penalties, for ruck infringements.
The one referee decision is a huge victory for The Daily Telegraph readers who last month voted overwhelmingly in favour of dumping the two-referee system which was introduced in 2009.
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Referees were informed of the proposal late Friday afternoon that still needs to be rubber-stamped by the independent commission next week.
Commission chairman Peter V’landys told The Saturday Telegraph on Friday he was fully supportive of the proposals that came from yesterday’s Project Apollo meeting.
“I will be recommending the changes go through to the commission with Wayne Pearce,” V’landys said.
“I take my hat off the Wayne Pearce. He has driven the six-again idea rather than stopping and starting with penalties around ruck infringements.
“If teams try to slow down the ruck, the opposition will get six again. Simple as that. They’ll soon learn not to slow the ruck down. The game just keeps moving.”
On the one-referee, V’landys is convinced it is the right call.
“Why won’t it work,” he said, “it does everywhere else. At the moment we have to live within our means. We have to cut back in all areas and this is one of them.”
The decision to award six more tackles rather penalties will greatly increase game continuity while providing a disincentive for breaches that impact on the speed of the ruck.
This innovation was trialled in the All Stars game at the start of the 2012 season and received significant positive reviews.
There are currently 25 full time referees and touch judges in the NRL. The aim is to cut the staff numbers to as low as 10 and save millions of dollars.
Manly Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler was shocked by the decision, however premier coach Trent Robinson and veteran Wayne Bennett were on the Apollo Project committee that came up with the recommendation.
“It’s a dangerous one to change mid-season,” Hasler said, “It’s a huge gamble. Maybe it can work long term but we need to test it out.
“It will slow the game dramatically. You’d think there will be no 10 metres. And if they concentrate on the 10 metres it will then effect the ruck. One ref can’t do both.
“We don’t play international football. Coaches work hours on getting an advantage in the ruck.”
The bunker will at least remain for the rest of the season to assist the one referee.
COMMENT
When the NRL shutdown for COVID-19 at the end of March, independent commission chairman Peter V’landys vowed to act on the game’s ‘catastrophic’ financial position.
For years we have known that outside of executive wages, far too much money is being spent on the bunker and the refereeing department.
The game does not need 25 full-time professional referees and touch judges. It is a shocking waste of money on match officials, some of whom earn more than $300,000-a-year.
The Apollo Project committee has done the right thing in this case.
For years Test match football, especially games involving the emerging Pacific nations, have featured the most glorious attacking football. With ONE referee.
The ‘experts’ will tell you NRL is different. That coaches will take advantage of one less set of eyes on the field.
Yet the fans have voted overwhelmingly to return to one referee.
It gets rid of much of the nit-picking and the games will flow.
Teams will be reluctant to slow down the ruck because referees will immediately order six more tackles.
Originally published as NRL will go back to one referee for the resumption of the 2020 season